Box extension to front of house in Ireland: pretty or not?

Francis McM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699125#Comment_121699125

I think the human eye also finds the sheer scale (size) of that front extension that was built (as opposed to the one on the drawing) out of place, and the fact the building style does not match or be sympathetic to the surrounding streetscape.

FrancieBrady

Another Fantasy Bulldozer thread in the one woman Get Bannon quest.

Just think of the many many iconic buildings and monuments that would not exist in the world any more if conservative contemporary opinions had been appeased or listened to.

Francis McM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699399#Comment_121699399

Iconic buildings and monuments are great in the right place, but you are stretching it seriously to

(a) call this an iconic building

(b) think the front of a semi-detached house in middle of a housing estate is the right place for an iconic building?

I'm not out to get Bannon ( I like parts of the inside of the house / do not mind what he does to the back ) but imagine if there was no planning regulation for front extensions in every housing estate in the country?

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699473#Comment_121699473

FFS give it up.

The planners were happy that this proceeded.

If you have an objection you are free to make it.

If Bannon changed stuff from the submitted plans he has to get retention.

In my opinion and I don't see why the planners would disagree, the changes made it much better.

By the way buildings 'become' iconic and private houses can too.

Widdensushi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699690#Comment_121699690

No one should ever look for planning so , just do what you want and ask forgiveness after?

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699703#Comment_121699703

Who said that?

As pointed out by an industry pro here, 'retention' is a part of planning law. It's use is entirely justifiable therefore. Abuse of it, is not and it's up to pro's to assess that, not some randomers on boards.ie who seem to have a massive grudge given the threads they have opened and contributed to about this one house.

Bizarre and fetishist tbh.

Widdensushi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699739#Comment_121699739

Why build it so different to the plans ? Maybe he knew that it wouldn't be accepted, but they wouldn't make him change it after, it's abuse of the planning process, it's for a television show so obviously it's going to be scrutinized more,if they didn't want that they wouldn't be on it,,,I don't appreciate the name calling either,no need,we are all entitled to our opinions even if they differ, thanks, it's a " discussion forum".

titan18

It looks like crap

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699763#Comment_121699763

'So different'? I wouldn't go anywhere near that view tbh.

It's for the pro's to decide if the process was abused. He wouldn't be the first to have make changes.

Francis McM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699792#Comment_121699792

So different? It is about 5 slates higher. If everyone built their front walls of their house 3 feet or a meter higher than in the drawings, and altered the shape of the window, would that be OK? Yes or no?

spurious

Can someone link to the planning application, so we can see if anyone objected?

If nobody objected, well....

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699878#Comment_121699878

Object Francis.

Why are you opening so many threads on this house?

Are they neighbours you fell out with, because it is extremely odd behaviour from you. Obsessive.

Widdensushi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699944#Comment_121699944

There's a pair of ye with skin in the game methinks.....

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699951#Comment_121699951

Not a bit of it.

I like to challenge those who have it in for RTE and it's shows (check my posting) and pretend to be justifiably criticising.

RTE, Bannon and this couple are worthy of criticism but not the obsessive ranting that is going on with Francis.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699886#Comment_121699886

+1

The AI may also contain the as built elevation.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699944#Comment_121699944

We know where she lives now.

She obviously has to look out at it daily 😂

Penn

It's likely the parapet around the front had to be made higher to ensure a sufficient flashing detail around same. These things often come up during construction rather than at design stage, and so long as it's in substantial compliance with the planning and doesn't cause any adverse effects, it's generally considered to be in compliance and not a breach of planning.

Francis McM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121700130#Comment_121700130

If you look at the drawing there is a "proposed stepped roof / gutter detail to avoid overhang", and no parapet. Surely they were experienced and competent enough to have an idea of that detail, seeing as they specified it? What was built was completely different, with the walls extending a few feet higher?

It is interesting to see what people think of the big "box like" extension joined on to the front of a semi-d house anyway.

spurious

1157/23

seems only the immediate neighbours were concerned enough to object/put in an observation and without reading every document they seem to have come to some agreement following changes.

Goldengirl

Interesting this . Outside of the personal to and fro going on between and about some posters..

I saw that program and loved the reno of the house and the shuttering effect on the front of the house . It is lovely and very well done by the builder and ties in with the new window frames colour wise.

But both myself and himself laughed at that roof detail the OP has pointed out . It's not very nice and after spending North of 620k I would have expected something tidier and less blocky . It is too high, above the roof line.

As regards objections ... Don't think the neighbours on either side would be affected lightwise... one is her sister anyway ...but it is ' overbearing and out of character ' which is the usual line from DCC if somebody even tries to push a toe out in front of the original front line of the house! Or is that only if ' ordinary extensions ' and not ' iconic '?

Surprised that was allowed tbh but only going from limited experience and am sure others know if this is really more common generally than we think ?

Do DCC only refuse planning now if there are objections ? I thought there were good reasons to refuse large front extensions in housing estates .

Leg End Reject

I like it apart, from the top section that's higher than the original. It looks like the blocklayer was on autopilot and went a couple of blocks too high and no one was bothered to remove them.

Mellor

I’ve of issue with front extensions where appropriate. I’ve no issue with modern “blocky” extensions that purposefully contrast the typical finishes of city semi-Ds. The existing house/finishes is nothing special, standard 70s dashing?

But that says, I think I very bad attempt at a modern extension. The design was never going to work from planning stage.

freshpopcorn

It's okay, I do think houses need to adept to people needs and there's lots of silliness with people objecting to planning.

I suppose if you lived there it would be handy to say you live in the boxy looking house for deliveries,etc.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121705525#Comment_121705525

I fully agre on houses adapting to needs.

Bannon gets a lot of criticism for the type of house he designs but most architects are doing the same thing. People want outdoor living to be a key aspect...hence the use of glass sliding walls(doors isn't really what they are). Because curved glass is expensive these houses tend to be boxy - the 'glass box' he gets criticised for designing.

My parents built their house in the late 40's early 1950. It reflected their needs and it wasn't outdoor living. They had no need for BBQ's/patio's and it wasn't a need for 99% of the people back then, hence the house has small windows and one standard solid wooden door to the back.

Francis McM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121705816#Comment_121705816

We are talking about the aesthetic appearance of the FRONT of the house, and how it blends in to the housing estate, or not as the case may be. You are talking about the use of glass: there is still a door in the front of the facade - two actually, one more hidden more so than the other, and the ratio of glass to wall in the front extension is actually less than the existing house, not more.

It is interesting that the planning authorities have said in the past that front house extensions, to quote their words, "should be in harmony with the surrounding landscape (be it urban or rural). So the design of the extension needs to consider the adjacent uses and how the extension will interact with neighbouring properties." The planning authorities also have said in the past "The site and the local area will have specific characteristics that need to be considered in the layout and design of the extension. The use of local materials or building styles will ensure the extension reflects local character. However the style of extension will influence how these are used." So what happened?

In this case, both the architect and the client like the extension, (or they would not have built it), which is fair enough. What puzzles me is the planners / if the rules planners go by has changed? Or maybe they think the extension " reflects local character", to use their own words?

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121706227#Comment_121706227

Things change. Requirements change. Policy changes based on CSO stats, populations, demographics etc

Get over it and accept it. Stop twitching at your curtains.

redoctober

Will look awful in a few years.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121706227#Comment_121706227

I wasn't talking about the front of the house as that is not where the outdoor living takes place and I was making a general point about Bannon's work anyhow.

The planning judgement on the Santry house dealt adequately with why they thought there was no problem. They passed it, and haven't decreed any changes.

You should look into appealing their decision if the house pains you that much.

Francis McM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121706786#Comment_121706786

Just wondering if it sets a precedent and if we will see many more of these types of Front House extensions in other housing estates now.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121707073#Comment_121707073

Anything would be better than rows and rows of the same architecturally bland house in my opinion.